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| Before clearing snow off a driveway, liberally spray both sides of a plastic or metal shovel with cooking spray. The ice will slide right off the oily surface. It's the easiest trick for smoother snow removal. (Photo: Mark Lund) |
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| Kick-start a fire with citrus peels. Leave orange or lemon peels on the counter for several days to dry out. Then use the pretty pieces as kindling in your fire pit or bonfire for a fragrant flame starter. (Photo: Aya Brackett) |
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| For a string of minilights that takes the (cup)cake, poke the pointy bulbs through foil cupcake liners. Use them for the tree or around your little girl’s bedroom mirror to make her feel like a holiday star. (Photo: Lucas Allen) |
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| Stop static cling on clothes—or tame flyaway hair—by rubbing a sheet over the problem area. (Photo: James Baigrie) |
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| Remove small stains from suede by gently rubbing the file (either side) across the problem area a few times to get rid of the splotch and refresh the nap. (Photo: Monica Buck) |
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| Create a gift tag by cutting a greeting card down to size, then punch a hole in the corner and slide a ribbon through it. (Photo: Quentin Bacon) |
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| Ring in the season with a brilliant mantelpiece. Start with a wire wreath frame (this one is 18 inches in diameter, but you can use any size). Then wrap a string of lights around the frame, making sure to leave enough slack to reach the plug; otherwise use an extension cord. (Photo: Francesco Lagnese) |
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| Banish static cling in the winter with a quick spritz of hairspray on the areas that are bunching. (Photo: Christopher Coppola) |
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| When autumn comes and the temperature dips, outdoor decorating becomes more challenging. Collect pinecones and pile them in an empty flower box for a pretty, no-maintenance display. (Photo: James Baigrie) |
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| Restore a favorite, well-worn cardigan to form by lightly running the stone across the surface to lift off any unsightly pills. (Photo: Alexandra Rowley) |
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| Speed the drying process for a favorite sweater. After hand-washing the garment, twirl it in the spinner to take out excess water. (Photo: Antonis Achilleos) |
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| Place a wreath of pinecones or faux evergreen in a paper bag with a 1/4 cup of salt. Fold the top of the bag over and gently shake. (Photo: James Baigrie) |
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| Save your shades from scratches by slipping them into a spare mitten before stashing them in your purse or glove compartment. (Photo: Sang An) |
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| If dragging and decking out the fresh spruce leaves you with sticky digits, pour a tablespoon of oil onto a cloth, then rub until clean. Bonus: The oil is a great moisturizer for dry winter skin. (Photo: James Baigrie) |
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| For this whimsical piece, you’ll need 16 ornaments. First mount eye-hook hardware to the ceiling (or use a preexisting plant hook). Tie two three-foot-long ribbons to it, knotting a glass ball at each end. Then cut four more ribbons two inches shorter than the first; tie them to the eye-hook so they surround the center balls. Attach ornaments to the ends. Build the next tier (again, two inches shorter than the last) with four more ribbons to create an upside-down pyramid. Last, use Blu-Tack (a reusable adhesive) to secure each ball to the one next to it. After the holidays, store the arrangement in a large box stuffed with tissue paper. (Photo: Francesco Lagnese) |
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| Come on?when was the last time you wore them, anyway? Instead, slip a pair over your windshield wipers on the eve of a storm so you won’t have to deice the blades in the morning. (Photo: Charles Masters) |
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| Nix static cling by running a wire hanger over the spots where your clothing tends to bunch or climb. (Photo: David Prince) |
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| Lift sticky pastry dough from the work surface. Next to ice, this job really isn't quite so hard. (Photo: James Wojcik) |
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| Fluff up wool sweaters by adding a few capfuls of vinegar to the rinse cycle. (Photo: James Wojcik) |
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